Goen and Frazer residents gathered in the first floors of their respective residence hall lobbies for the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Senate elections last Monday, Jan. 20. Four positions were vacant, providing the opportunity for students to run for Senate and be representatives for their MSMS peers: two Goen juniors and two Frazer seniors.

Four candidates were considered on election day for the Goen junior spots, while two candidates ran for the Frazer senior positions. The newly elected Senators are juniors Niyah Lockett and Mackenna Riley, and seniors Britton Phillips and Christian Fulcher. 

Each candidate presented a speech limited to 90 seconds to explain why they should be chosen. Residents then voted for their top two choices. Allowing students to vote for their senators is a way for their voices to be heard and represented. 

Senator Riley ran for senate because of her interest in political science. She also wants to help her peers’ voices be heard.

“I hope to make MSMS better for not only my class but classes to come,” Riley said.

Additionally, as a senator, Lockett would like to see change occur and ensure a better MSMS community. 

“I hope to see this school’s policies be in the best interest of the students,” she said. “Being that the handbook was created by adults, it can unintentionally fall short of the needs of the students.”

During his speech, Senator Fulcher campaigned about the use of hammocks at MSMS. Although he was not part of SGA fall semester, Fulcher is now taking the opportunity to bring about change.

“Now that I am there I hope to make the school a better place by fulfilling my campaign promise to my constituents,” Fulcher said.

Senior Vayd Ramkumar, SGA’s Vice President, hopes that with new senators, more ideas will be brought to light. Although the Senate has been productive with just 24 senators, having passed 30 bills and resolutions, four new senators can bring new ideas to the table. 

“I know that we have a lot of potential to bring quite a few grievances into the limelight,” Ramkumar said. “I am fairly sure that we will enact even more change.”

The new senators’ first meeting was Tuesday, Jan. 21. All 28 senator positions are filled once again, creating a group of active students who act as voices for the MSMS student body. Senate meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. and is open for all students to sit in on and listen to current bills under discussion.